Beating Rangers or Celtic always requires a high standard of play across every facet of the game.
That was certainly the case for St Johnstone, whose match strategy against the Gers on Sunday worked to perfection.
They soaked up an aerial bombardment, counter-attacked effectively and were clinical with the two chances they got to score (one of them couldn’t even really be described as a chance).
Courier Sport picks out four key topics from a match to remember, with one in particular carrying huge importance for the future attacking development of Callum Davidson’s team.
Not throwing it away
Davidson places great significance on his team getting their throw-ins right, whether that’s seizing an opportunity to catch an opponent off guard or not rushing into a rash decision that can see possession turned over.
The post-match press conference in Klagenfurt after Saints’ superb 1-1 draw with LASK in the first leg of their Europa Conference League qualifier was an illuminating five minutes in that regard.
Thrilled with his team’s overall performance and the position it put them in for the return tie, Davidson was irritated by the quality of the throw-ins at times.
“I’m probably a bit frustrated we are taking quick throw-ins,” said Davidson back then. “I think the boys are that eager to try and win the game. But a quick throw-in doesn’t necessarily mean scoring a goal.”
It was a quote that stuck in the mind.
That Saints’ winner on Sunday came from a throw-in won’t have been lost on Davidson.
😱 𝐄𝐂𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐘 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐓 𝐉𝐎𝐇𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐄 😱
Nicky Clark's magical finish makes it 2-0 against Rangers 🚨 pic.twitter.com/51h2BUvKTp
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) November 6, 2022
Being sharper of mind – Stevie May was alive to the possibilities and Leon King wasn’t alive to the danger – is an advantage the likes of Saints can exploit against superior opponents.
It was their first goal of the season that started with a throw-in.
The importance Davidson puts on sideline re-starts has at last been rewarded.
Monty’s big moment
That an on-loan Celtic player would have taken great delight in being part of a win against Rangers does not need to be pointed out.
Regardless of that little sub-plot, though, this was Adam Montgomery’s St Johnstone career peak.
He’s due to return to Parkhead in January but Sunday’s performance showed that, even though there is plenty of room for defensive improvement, there’s real talent for Ange Postecoglou to work with.
Montgomery played a part in both goals.
The throw-in contribution to Nicky Clark’s near post finish has been mentioned.
But his front-foot defending to start the phase of play that culminated in James Brown’s opener deserves equal, if not greater, attention.
When John Lundstram took a heavy touch in midfield, the safe option would have been for Montgomery to stay with the man expecting a pass on the touchline, Fashion Sakala.
The Scotland under-21 international instead threw himself into a sliding tackle, which he won, played the ball inside to Graham Carey, continued a run forward and then pressured James Tavernier into a sloppy clearance after a one v one dribble didn’t pay off.
Another – game-long – feather in Montgomery’s cap was his passing accuracy.
It hit 92%.
That’s the highest total for a Saints player who has lasted a full match all season.
If Postecoglou doesn’t want to take Montgomery back in January, Perth fans would be delighted if he stayed where he is.
Thou shalt not pass
Ryan McGowan, Alex Mitchell and Andy Considine all had man of the match credentials at the weekend.
We’ve said that a few times this season.
Repelling Rangers advances was obviously a key part of this victory.
The confidence Davidson has in his central defensive unit was shown in the midfield selection.
There wasn’t a natural CDM shield for the back three among David Wotherspoon, Melker Hallberg and Graham Carey, that’s for sure.
Mitchell’s sliding blocks in the box caught the eye.
So too did McGowan’s assurance on the ball.
But Considine took the phrase ‘right place at the right time’ to new heights for the season.
His 13 clearances in one game is the biggest total for a Saints player this campaign.
No more needs to be said.
Proper partnership
That Nicky Clark has helped bring out the best in Stevie May has been clear from the first game the two men played together – the 3-0 win against St Mirren.
👏A debut goal for Nicky Clark as St Johnstone beat St Mirren 3-0.
Here are all the goals from McDiarmid Park⬇️ pic.twitter.com/NejkwsFglR
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) September 3, 2022
Apart from Kilmarnock away, the seven games they have both featured have been a great advert for deploying two forwards up front.
Davidson has admitted that their work together has changed his tactical thinking.
However, Sunday’s match has taken their combination play to a much higher level.
Previously it was a case of two men whose skillsets complemented each other and benefited the team.
But the most they actually passed to each other in a match was five times – versus Kilmarnock (twice), St Mirren and Dundee United.
There were even three games (Hibs, Celtic and Ross County) when they didn’t link up at all.
For the total Opta pass matrix between them to soar to 11 against Rangers is a transformative development.
May and Clark is turning into a partnership in every sense of the word.
They’re now bringing the best out of the team AND each other.
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